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Omar Asghar Khan was a Pakistani politician and social activist born on July 3, 1953. He taught economics, philosophy and politics at Quaid-i-Azam University.

He formed a non-governmental organisation called Sungi, which gained recognition for its community-based health care, forest protection, sustainable agriculture, women empowerment and the re-settlement of displaced persons. He also formed his own political party Qaumi Jamhoori Party.

He died under mysterious circumstances on June 25, 2002. Today marks his 15th death anniversary.

I lost my father, Omar Asghar Khan, 14 years ago, in 2002. At the time, I was really young, perhaps meant to live a different life until his death threw me on an entirely new path. He is no longer the key presence in my life that I had imagined him to be, but an indelible memory that I carry forth.

My spouse and children have never met him so I feel the onus is on me to keep his memory alive; to make him real for them and an entire generation who might have never heard of him.

My father wore many hats — with aplomb. He was a loving father, son and brother; a leading economist, politician and social activist; a voice to the voiceless; and a quiet, empathetic listener.

My father Omar Asghar Khan and mother Samina.

Is it any wonder then that we discovered the many lives he had led after his death?

He was said to be charismatic even in his boyhood. He excelled in sports at school, captaining the hockey and swimming teams. He was a prankster and would often pull an odd prank or two — such as sneaking in a squeaky toy under an unsuspecting groom at a family wedding. It was his way of teaching us to never take anything too seriously in life.

Our family in Skardu.

In everything that my father did — be it during his time in the army, in politics or teaching — he always stood up for what he believed was right, come what may. I'm so grateful for his unwavering belief in principles and quiet activism seeping into all of our consciousness.

His demand was simple: Rights for all

It was this very activism that made him a thorn in the side of those in power. Early on his career, he was dismissed under false pretext from the Punjab University by General Ziaul Haq, after which he joined my grandfather's political party Tehrik-e-Istiqlal.

He subsequently travelled across the country to meet the common people in remote cities, towns and villages; to listen to their concerns, and empathise with them.

My father and the rest of the family at a birthday party.

He, and the organisation he founded, Sungi, stood up resolutely to hostile maulvis opposed to education of girls and against the timber mafia in Hazara. As a member of Pervez Musharraf’s cabinet, he was a voice for the poor and disenfranchised. Omar’s achievements were extraordinary in a society so hostile to change and forward movement. He succeeded far better than most, with his unique mix of idealism and pragmatism. Many of us have our own reasons for being grateful to Omar.
—Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy

Returning inspired and motivated, he went on to establish the Sungi Development Foundation with a mission to mobilise marginalised communities; to transform their lives; and to establish a peaceful and prosperous society based on social justice, equity and equality.

Many generations of girls and boys — who might not even remember him now — have an education, drinking water and roads in far-flung areas of Pakistan, where, at the time, no one ever dared to venture before. He helped them find a voice, educated them about the system and all its hurdles and taught them how to demand their rights.

To him, they were his partners in building a better Pakistan from the ground up.

Much of the time he spent travelling to different corners of Pakistan to meet with people was time that he spent away from us, his family. We never resented it because we knew he was changing the lives of so many disenfranchised Pakistanis.

Omar Asghar Khan's legacy

In the terrible, bleak days that followed his death, we were humbled by the scores of people, old and young, who came to Abbottabad for his funeral, just to catch a glimpse of him.

We heard from countless communities that they had taken my father in their tribes and clans as one of their own. This was heartwarming, as well as astounding, to learn because they had never let an outsider in their community before.

An old man, who was associated with Sungi as a driver, recalled that when he took my father to remote villages, he would never ask to exclusively sleep in a separate room at night but instead preferred sleeping with everyone together.

My brother Abdullah and I with our father.

When I hark back to my own memories of him, there is one that makes me particularly nostalgic: During his time in Sungi, my father decided to grow a beard and he would mostly wear shalwar kameez. A young teenager at the time, his conservative appearance used to embarrass me greatly, especially when one of my friends commented, "Your driver has come to pick you up." I now recall his appearance with pride.

As Minister for Local Government and Rural Development during Musharraf's regime, he took out two hours from his hectic schedule everyday to meet with citizens. Every morning, while we were getting ready for school, there would be a long queue of people outside our house, waiting to talk about their grievances with the government, or other leaders.

He invited them into our home as guests and they ate and drank with us, routinely confusing the government staff and security at our house, who had never seen such a lack of formality and pomp around a federal minister’s residence.

The scale of his work was so massive that it leaves me overwhelmed at times.

I crave for my children to learn from and to follow my father’s legacy; to consistently stand up for people, without any fear, despite the odds.

For me, he lives in all the people he met and impacted, and their expressions of love when they find out that I am his daughter.

And so my response to my five-year-old son is always: your grandfather is among all of us.

On DawnNews

Comments (74) Closed

This is beautiful. This is heartbreaking. Those who know Omar know he could never have taken his life. It is this country's biggest misfortune that its best and brightest are silenced.

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Haller

Jun 25, 2016 03:08pm

I studies @ Burn Hall Abbottabad. His home was near our school.Seen him quite a time at a young age.He was definitely very handsome and impressive.A great son of a great father.May his soul RIP.

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Mohammad Ali Khan

Jun 25, 2016 03:15pm

This is beautiful. This is heartbreaking. Those who know Omar know he could never have taken his life. It is this country's biggest misfortune that its best and brightest are silenced."Qurat Abid"

Beautifully described.Wake up Pakistanis.Don't let the lives of so many be lost in vain.

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syed wasim haider

Jun 25, 2016 03:27pm

Rightly said a great son of a great father.RIP

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mohammad

Jun 25, 2016 03:30pm

knowing Omar was a great privilege , one of the few in his generation who really wanted to make use of his life for the betterment of others. A selfless devoted human being with immense virtues and qualities raised by one of the greatest national Hero of the country.
May God rest his soul in peace and Shower His endless blessings on him and his family

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Barangai

Jun 25, 2016 03:47pm

Last year we had a visit to Sungi Abbottabad as a part of Community Medicine.

We had a short introduction of the origin of Sungi and the activities they are involved.

Never knew that the man behind sungi was a graduated of Cambridge University.

Respect for Omar Asghar Khan

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Amnagi

Jun 25, 2016 03:49pm

Powers of darkness are ruling this country since many decades and our nation is also in deep slumber intoxicated by opium of religion. I wonder when we will awake.

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Amnagi

Jun 25, 2016 03:54pm

Please, accept my heartfelt respect for Omar Asghar Khan. Our country has a shameful tradition of silencing or disowning the voices of truth.

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J J

Jun 25, 2016 04:13pm

Omar Asghar Khan was an example for our age.
I admired him as a Pakistani and certainly do not believe that he could take his own life.

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Fact Finder

Jun 25, 2016 04:16pm

Salt of the earth person. Great human being. Though it will remain a mystery what was the pressure and by whom he went thru before his demise. RIP.

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Noman Ahmed

Jun 25, 2016 04:31pm

He belonged to the rare breed of people who were humble in personal conduct yet rock firm in their resolve to change the destiny of our underprivileged masses. His work towards conserving the forests of our country and towards the uplift of down trodden was remarkable. His death came as a shock to many who believed that Omar will be able to continue with his good work in his ministerial assignment.

And he proved that he was son of a great soldier of Pakistan - Air Martial Asghar Khan. I wish that Sungi continues to realise the various goals that Omar had set in his life time.

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Abul Farah

Jun 25, 2016 04:31pm

It was unfortunate to lose a person like him. Your father and grandfather were great heroes, and every Pakistani is proud of them.

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Zia

Jun 25, 2016 04:34pm

Yasmeen, thanks for writing and sharing this. I knew him through media and that he was son of a great patriotic person who served Pakistan and tried to change it for better. When Musharraf chose him it must be for some reason like he chose Dr. Atta or few others to serve Pakistan. God bless your dad and your family.

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Zaman

Jun 25, 2016 04:51pm

A remarkable person. Caring, kind and compassionate. He was committed to public service and uncompromising in his vision and service. He was destined to achieve greatness and introduced honesty, hardwork , accountability and responsibility into his public career and politics. This was his undoing. A few more years of his service would have transformed the politics of Pakistan. A great Son of a great Father. And I feel the tradition lives on. May he find eternal peace.

Omar Asghar Khan was a revolutionary and peoples' man. He contributed greatly to the issues and helped students & the dispossessed throughout his career. We were shocked when his enterprising life was cut-short by the dark forces in Pakistan. The key question why his killers were not apprehended and why those people were not exposed during Musharraf era (of which he was a Minister) and in later years?

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Basharat

Jun 25, 2016 05:09pm

Thank you for reminding us of Omer Ashar Khan. Never got a chance to meet him but always heard great things about him. I believe he also helped Musharaf's government establish local bodies system for Pakistan and it was way better then previous systems.Omar Asghar Khan is a great Son of Pakistan and I would consider him among the Unsung Hero's of Pakistan.

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Shabbar

Jun 25, 2016 05:10pm

I remember him and that day. He was a gentleman son of a gentleman father. The people of Pakistan owe immense gratitude to Asghar Khan and his family.

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Tariq

Jun 25, 2016 05:39pm

"Omar" we miss you. This is heartbreaking. I Knew Omar he could never have taken his life. It is our misfortune that lives of so many are lost in vain and yet Silence prevails.

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ishaq

Jun 25, 2016 05:58pm

A very beautiful, humble and intelligent personality I had a chance to attend many seminars with His organisation SEBCON at Pakswiss Mardan in late 1980s and early 1990s . I coudnt believe the tragic end of such an intelligent brain of Pakistan he was a mesmerizing person,

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sultana

Jun 25, 2016 06:12pm

What a legacy. Very inspirational way of taking his legacy forward.

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Ayub

Jun 25, 2016 06:26pm

He was really a brilliant and talented person. He was modest, simple, and a good friend. The vacuum created with his loss shall never be filled.

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Shahid

Jun 25, 2016 06:34pm

All these years, I have just been waiting to know the reality behind this great man's death.

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muhammad shoaib

Jun 25, 2016 06:48pm

He announced monthly Rs.3000 rupees for children of workers in 2001 which was unbelievable as gold tola was in Rs.8000 at that time. I was studying in medical college and was not believing that Rs.36000 per year can be given to workers children back in 2001. He was working against interest of industrialists and made eligible worker children to continue higher education. Circumstantial evidences pointed that he worked against corrupts in EOBI and against industrialist interests.Before him, worker children were not getting huge scholarships.Rest in peace

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anon

Jun 25, 2016 06:51pm

Thank you very much, Yasmeenji,
for sharing such a wonderfully thought provoking and yet very sad piece with us.
Pakistan, nay the whole world, needs many more people like your father, who strive to be part of the change they would like to see in the world around them

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Jawaid kamal

Jun 25, 2016 06:50pm

God bless you and protect you

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Pervaiz Iqbal

Jun 25, 2016 06:57pm

Omar Asghar was my class fellow at Habib Public School, Karachi. He was outstanding in sports, particularly swimming. I was good at studies and he often sought my assistance in catching up. Once he had gone to China with his father, then heading PIA, to participate in its independence anniversary celebrations. When he returned from China, he gave me two sets of picture postcards about the country - surprising me since I did not know that he knew about my hobby in school days.

I lost contact with him after school. Read about his activities as Federal minister in the newspapers, particularly his pivotal role in developing and beautifying the area around Quaid's mausoleum.

I was deeply saddened by his tragic end. The article has rekindled my desire to learn about the truth. He was a jovial and fun loving boy at school.

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Waqas Shaikh

Jun 25, 2016 08:02pm

A nice tribute to a loving father and a great human being. it is sad and tragic the way he was killed. RIP.

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Kazim Anwar

Jun 25, 2016 08:18pm

I met Omar for the first time in School days .He was a good swimmer and excelled in Diving . We became closer when we went to Lahore for National Swimming competition . I still have a news paper cutting and photographs from our Swimming competition days . He was particularly good in breaststroke and butterfly and I in freestyle-crawl and back-stroke.
There was a tie at the School Swimming gala as we both scored 15 points each coming first in our respective 3 races . But deep in my heart I knew he was a better overall swimmer because of his diving excellence.

We never kept up with each other much after school but I was shocked and saddened by his untimely passing away of a very decent human being.

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Pak Patriot

Jun 25, 2016 08:26pm

Yasmeen .........A smashing tribute to a smashing personality.
I often read articles by Omar Asghar Khan and thought of him to be a rising Pakistani Star . Great job Yasmeen, continue your father and grand fathers legacy.

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Something Fishy

Jun 25, 2016 09:11pm

Knew and met him many times in early days of his after-return-from-west. And been aware of found and progress of Sungi and his work.
We need a lot of people like him.

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IBN E ASHFAQUE

Jun 25, 2016 09:18pm

@Qurat Abid I agree with you. Pakistan could not tolerate Omar....He was too clean......He had to be silenced.......

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IBN E ASHFAQUE

Jun 25, 2016 09:22pm

@Zaheer Rana The system in Pakistan is crushing the outspoken and people friendly people........it favors PANAMA leaks type people

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seher

Jun 25, 2016 09:55pm

I remember the time he was assassinated. Everyone spoke very highly of him. It was not only your loss, but a loss for the entire country. RIP.

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Qurat

Jun 25, 2016 09:56pm

We lost a leader. He was inspiring leader who motivated many of us who are in the humanitarian field. It was a great loss for humanity.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 25, 2016 11:08pm

Excellent write-up about Omar Asghar Khan, who was a great guy & worked very hard for his people. He was a real leader stemming from the masses. I remember meeting him in person during our annual three-day sports meet at Abbotabad Public School (APS) while I was studying at Cadet College Kohat (CCK) in the late 1970s. I was the skipper of CCK's cricket team & Omar Asghar Khan was captaining APS's field hockey team. During our interaction, I found him as a gem of a person. From his actions & outlook, he never posed or showed in any way that he came from a top-notch family like his dad was Air-Marshal (Rtd) Asghar Khan. In fact, he was as humble as a pie, to say the least. Thereafter when he became a federal minister, the feed-back from the ordinary people about him was outstanding. His tragic passing away subsequently under weird & baffling circumstances still haunts me. For sure, the nation lost a future leader. May God Almighty bless his soul in peace and solace. Aameen, Tsum Aameen.

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Ilias from NL

Jun 25, 2016 11:55pm

To being a son and a father I can feel the heat of love in this article, so nice and heart touching, regards

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Zk

Jun 26, 2016 12:18am

Omar Asghar was also a brave soldier who was victimized by the Dictator Zia. We are proud of Air Marshall Asghar and his son Omar.

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shan ali

Jun 26, 2016 12:48am

heartedly much much respect for him...........May his soul rest in peace.

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Jamil Bhatti

Jun 26, 2016 01:04am

Aaaah! what a sad thing you have made me recalled. What great future of Pakistan he could be, but we loses him. I believe he could be the Saviour of our land.

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Jun 26, 2016 01:14am

An excellent article written by Yasmin Omer Asghar Khan .Omer Asghar Khan was Cambridge graduate an honest dedicated human being following foot prints of his well disciplined father. Please accept my heart felt respect for Omer Asghar Khan. He tried to uplift the standard of living of down trodden masses as well to educate them. Pakistan needs such a dedicated hero. ( Terxas )

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Najam

Jun 26, 2016 01:55am

I had only heard of your father and when he died, we felt as did nation as if we lost our future. We had expected so much from him.

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Muzaffar Ali

Jun 26, 2016 02:24am

Yasmeen, your father stood for Truth, Justice and Service to mankind. He lives in our hearts, as he lives in yours.....Muzaffar

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Abdul Basit

Jun 26, 2016 03:31am

I met your father, when I visited Islamabad as Qatar's representative of Musharraf's formed advisory council. If fact your dad invited all the guest to his house. One of my friends ( Abdul Hayee) was Punjab chairman of his party. We had very memorable one to one conversation.
Your dad was not only a loving father but also a KIND, LOVING and caring human being.
I thought he was the brightest young man with strong moral values, love for ordinary people and VERY HUMBLE.
He gave every guest a leather bag to carry documents. This bag is in our living room as a reminder of the love, kindness, knowledge and humility of an extraordinary youngman, I was privileged to meet.
God Almighty send him to heaven and bless his children and grandchildren, family and friends.

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Pak Pride

Jun 26, 2016 03:48am

We need people like him and Like Asghar Khan.

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farooq

Jun 26, 2016 04:28am

Both him and his father were heroes, Pakistan need more like them.

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Dervaish Khan

Jun 26, 2016 08:27am

Why don't the writer come forward and complete the unfinished work of her father.

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waqarpirooz

Jun 26, 2016 09:03am

He was a great man and a great teacher. I was student at punjab university 1981-83.he was teaching in department of economics.we all were his great admirer.he had a very optimistic view of life. Never frustated.democratic strong advocate of democracy. His ideology will never die.he is alive among his students.

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Ed

Jun 26, 2016 09:09am

Respects.

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Jun 26, 2016 11:47am

An excellent article written by Yasmin Asghar Khan.Omer Asghar Khan was a Cambridge graduate who was following foot prints of his father Air Marshal (Retd.) Asghar Khan who was disciplined gentleman.Omer tried utmost to uplift the standard of living of down trodden masses and to educate them.We pray the departed soul and hope Yasmin Omer may come forward and hold the flag to lead the nation.(Texas )

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Ahmed Ali Noorani

Jun 26, 2016 12:16pm

@Pervaiz Iqbal

The memorable school days with Omar, you (Pervaiz) and other class mates shall for ever remain with us till life time. Thanks Yasmeen for sharing your thoughts in loving memory of your father. Omar was a jolly fellow and a very friendly person.
He was too good a person in a team of selfish politicians and officials.
May God elevate his status in heavens and may God grant you success in all your endeavors.

Ahmed Ali Noorani - Houston, Texas

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fawad

Jun 26, 2016 12:44pm

so well written ,Omar was always are ideal ,some body who is a role model and now his memories and actions make us proud

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Ahmed

Jun 26, 2016 01:12pm

Great person.

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Solat Amin

Jun 26, 2016 01:40pm

He was a great hope at that time but his sudden death was a big disappointment for us. We still want to know the fact behind his death.

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Awan

Jun 26, 2016 02:51pm

Just few days back I was thinking about him may he RIP and yes he was a great loss for the nation he was rare because he was mostly focused on his work unlike Govt. officials.

Probably the work has left the gap between family and him which ultimately reached to a level where he has to take this decision.

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shahram

Jun 26, 2016 03:08pm

everybody's father is their HERO

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shujaat aziz

Jun 26, 2016 03:39pm

Omar came to our house in Nowshera just week ago before his death,looking very fresh, active, enthusiastic and functional . Nobody believe that such a man with motivated aim will take his own life.

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Lotus

Jun 26, 2016 04:15pm

Yasmeen,your father was a great person.Personalities like him do not emerge frequently.If still alive he would have done great for all his country men.He had a broad and progressive outlook towards life and sincerely wanted to contribute towards the development of his beloved country.I do not find appropriate words to convey my and thousands like me our feelings for Omar's great personality and sincere leadership.Hus untimely death was a blow to his parents,his family and to the overall nation,disbelieving how can the society be so cruel to a Angel like ma.RIP dearest Omar.

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SAEED MASOOD

Jun 26, 2016 05:19pm

very touching emotional good article...Suicide is now very treatable if someone shows a sign he should be immediately given help...

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Sadia

Jun 26, 2016 09:06pm

I didn't know of your father. I was still in A levels at the time of his death. But reading this article reduced me to tears and reading the comments section tells you how much he was loved.The details of his death are haunting. Those who wanted to silence him took him out in the most cruel way possible : murder dressed up as suicide. They couldn't even give him a heroic death. I wouldn't wish your ordeal on my worst enemy.I am also disappointed at dawn for their coverage of his death. They missed out essential discrepancies. For example the rope burns on your fathers wrists that suggested they were tied behind his back, the rope burns around his neck that suggested it wasn't bed sheets that caused strangulation , his height and the height of the ceiling making death by hanging from a fan impossible. Iike I said the details of his death are haunting. I am so so sorry he had to go this way. It's in unjust cases like this that you hope for divine retribution.

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afia

Jun 26, 2016 11:15pm

Yasmeen this is so beautiful... just like the person your father was .. may his soul be blessed. He lives on in the wonderful work that your mother had continued and also through his flag that his colleagues are carrying in the organization that bears his name. His going was a personal loss for you and your family, but was felt just as deeply by thousands whose lives he touched.

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Rafia Saleem

Jun 27, 2016 09:11am

A real Hero; Omar Asghar Khan changed many lives... RIP

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Niaz Ud Din

Jun 27, 2016 10:47am

He was a good man, his death saddened us all.

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Khalid

Jun 27, 2016 02:30pm

Always intrigued, Why did he commit suicide ? anyone

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aly alp-ercelan

Jun 27, 2016 03:23pm

among many others I too was privileged by working thru PILER alongside OAK even though more briefly than I would have liked. Carry on as bravely as your mother has done!

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Asad Khan

Jun 27, 2016 04:07pm

A great and lovely person from a great family. Rest In Peace.

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Irtiza

Jun 27, 2016 04:25pm

Great man

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Syed khawar mehdi

Jun 27, 2016 04:36pm

I think it was 1985 0r 86 when we were invited by Allama Aqeel Turabi to a dinner hosted by him in honor of the newly married Omar Asghar Khan & his beautiful bride at his house off Tariq Road in Karachi. If I am not mistaken Omar Asghar's brother was also there with his wife.

Allama Sahab was a member of Air Marshall Asghar Khan's Tehreek e Istiqlal. I was much younger but clearly remember Omar Asghar as a bright, intelligent and friendly person with a sparkling personality and a great conversationalist and easy to get along with.

Omar Asghar was a good man and every reason for his daughter and family to be proud of him

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engr vinjhraj

Jun 27, 2016 05:02pm

He was great human being .He was towering personality like his proud father retired Air Marshal Asghar khan.His exit was a great loss for us all who believe in value of human life,liberty ,social justice and democracy.

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Zafar Salim

Jun 27, 2016 07:52pm

Thanks for sharing. As a film-maker, I hope you plan to make a movie about him, not a documentary though! I recall my father's fondness of your grandfather's capabilities, honor & achievements. I'm sure your dad was no less awesome than his pillar of strength. Look forward to watching your movie. Z

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MK

Jun 27, 2016 10:37pm

@Syed khawar mehdi the dinner you have mentioned would probably be to celebrate the marriage of his younger brother Ali Asghar Khan who got married in the mid 80's, OAK and Samina Khan got married some time around 1979 or 1980.

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ejaz

Jun 28, 2016 03:48am

Beautifully written. We need more stories like this.

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Waheed Uz Zaman Tariq

Jun 28, 2016 09:10am

He was great friend of mine since 1970. I was president of Istiqlal Student Federation Punjab and Secretary general at national level in 1970s. I have been close to Omar's father and saw his progress as a young military officer and after he came back from his education in UK. After a brief career as a university teacher at PU and QAU, he had dedicated himself for public welfare. He fought against timber mafia and corrupt bureaucracy. He had been visiting me as a doctor and discussed about his developmental projects. His sudden demise has left many stories behind. I may well imagine the way the young writer had been feeling. We too miss him a lot.

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nad

Jun 28, 2016 10:10am

Omar Asghar Khan was a promising and gentlemen politician and his untimely death at a young age in mysterious circumstances left many wondering.Rest in peace omar asghar khan.